house might be searched, and that possibly before the British
entered the town there might be a general sack of the place by the mob,
and even if this did not take place there might be desperate house to
house fighting when the troops arrived. Rujub acknowledged the danger,
and said that he and his daughter would accompany them on their way down
country, as it would greatly lessen their risk if two of the party were
really natives. Bathurst gratefully accepted the offer, as it would make
the journey far more tolerable for Isobel if she had Rabda with her.

She was to wait a short distance from the prison while Bathurst made the
attempt, and was left in a clump of bushes two or three hundred yards
away from the prison. Rujub accompanied Bathurst. They went along
quietly until within fifty yards of the sentry in the rear of the
house, and then stopped. The man was walking briskly up and down.
Rujub stretched out his arms in front of him with the fingers extended.
Bathurst, who had taken his place behind him, saw his muscles stiffen,
while there was a tremulous motion of his fingers. In a minute or two
the sentry's walk became slower. In a little time it ceased altogether,
and he leaned against the wall as if drowsy; then he slid down in a
sitting position, his musket falling to the ground.

"You can come along now," Rujub said; "he is fast asleep, and there is
no fear of his waking. He will sleep till I bid him wake."

They at once moved forward to the wall of the house. Bathurst threw up
a knotted rope, to which was attached a large hook, carefully wrapped in
flannel to prevent noise. After three or four attempts it caught on the
parapet. Bathurst at once climbed up. As soon as he had gained the flat
terrace, Rujub followed him; they then pulled up the rope, to the lower
end of which a rope ladder was attached, and fastened this securely;
then they went to the inner side of the terrace and looked down onto
the courtyard. Two men were standing at one of the grated windows of the
prison room, apparently looking in; six others were seated round a fire
in the center of the court.

Bathurst was about to turn away when Rujub touched him and pointed to
the two men at the window, and then stretched out his arms towards them.
Presently they turned and left the window, and in a leisurely way walked
across the court and entered a room where a light was burning close to
the grate. For two or three minutes Rujub stood in the same